Free Variable Economy

Abstract

Several authors have recently argued that semantic interpretation is subject to economy constraints. In particular, Fox (1999) argued that the interpretation of pronouns is subject to BINDING ECONOMY, which favors local binding over non-local binding. The present paper points out a problem for BINDING ECONOMY. The aim, then, is to see if this problem can be resolved in a conservative way, that is, preserving the general idea that interpretation is subject to economy constraints. The suggested solution is to consider a different economy criterion. The proposed constraint, FREE VARIABLE ECONOMY, disfavors free variables rather than non-local binding. It avoids the problem that BINDING ECONOMY runs into, and preserves the general idea that semantic interpretation is subject to economy constraints.